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Cancer survivors treated with abdominal or pelvic radiation therapy (RT) for childhood cancer have an increased risk of colorectal cancer. However, clinical guidelines are inconsistent on recommendations regarding the early initiation of screening in these patients due to the lack of supporting evidence that these patients pass through a pre-invasive phase, in which adenomatous polyps can be detected and removed. To determine the prevalence of adenomatous polyps in cancer survivors treated with RT for childhood cancer; the prevalence in average-risk patients aged 17–49; and the prevalence in average-risk patients aged 50–75. We conducted a retrospective study comparing the prevalence of adenomatous polyps among three patient groups: childhood cancer survivors aged 17–49 with prior RT who underwent colonoscopy screening from 2006 to 2017; age- and gender-matched patients in the average-risk population; and average-risk patients aged 50–75. One hundred and forty-five patients were included in the study. The proportion of patients with adenomatous polyps in the cancer survivor group was significantly higher than that in the age- and gender-matched average-risk group (58.6 vs 17.2%, p = 0.00) and higher than the average-risk group aged 50–75 (58.6 vs 27.6%, p = 0.009). The prevalence of adenomas with high-risk features was higher in the survivor group compared to patients aged 50–75 (20.7 vs 3.5%, p = 0.015). Cancer survivors treated with RT for childhood cancer have a higher prevalence of adenomatous polyps compared to the average-risk population. These findings support the early initiation of colonoscopy screening 10 years after radiation therapy, even in patients who have received RT doses below 30 Gy.

BACKGROUND: Inpatient small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) has been associated with a decrease in the completion rate compared to outpatient SBCE. However delaying the performance of SBCE until hospital discharge may result in a decrease in the diagnostic yield. Therefore, interventions to shorten small bowel transit time are needed to increase the completion rates. Prucalopride is 5-HT4 receptor agonist that has been shown to decrease the whole gut transit time. AIMS: To investigate the effect of prucalopride on small bowel transit time for hospitalized patients undergoing SBCE. METHODS: This was a retrospective study that included all hospitalized patients who underwent SBCE between November 2011 and September 2016 at Vancouver General Hospital. In the period between March 2014 and December 2015, all patients received prucalopride at the time of capsule ingestion. Prucalopride was not given outside of this period. SBCE studies were excluded if the capsule was retained, other prokinetic agents were given, technical failure, endoscopic placement or if patients had prior small bowel resection. RESULTS: A total of 66 SBCE were performed. 12 SBCE were excluded. For the 54 included studies, the mean age for patients was 64 years. 64% of SBCE were done in male patients. The indications were obscure gastrointestinal bleeding in 51 and abnormal radiology in 3 patients. 29 patients received prucalopride. The overall completion rate was 85% and the mean small bowel transit time was 186 minutes. The prucalopride group had a significantly shorter small bowel transit time (132 vs. 277, p

Although vitamin D deficiency occurs in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it is currently unclear to what extent ethnicity affects vitamin D levels. Our aim was therefore to determine the ethnic variation in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D status and its association with disease severity in adults with IBD.We conducted a prospective cohort study in ambulatory care IBD patients. Clinical disease severity was assessed through validated questionnaires. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were used for vitamin D status. C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and hemoglobin (Hgb) levels were correlated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels.Sixty ulcerative colitis (UC) and forty Crohn's disease (CD) patients were enrolled comprising 65 % Caucasians and 29 % South Asians. However, South Asians had consistently lower average serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (All 44.8 ± 18.1 nmol/L, UC 48.2 ± 18.3 nmol/L, CD 24.3 ± 13.3 nmol/L). Hypovitaminosis D was found in 39 % of All, 36.7 % of UC and 42.5 % of CD patients. A significantly higher proportion of South Asians were vitamin D deficient when compared to Caucasians in All and CD groups (58.6 % vs. 30.8 %, p = 0.01 and 85.7 % vs. 32.3 %, p0.01, respectively).A significantly higher percentage of South Asians had hypovitaminosis D when compared to Caucasians. Disease severity trended towards an inverse relationship with vitamin D status in all South Asian and Caucasian CD patients, although most patients in this study had only mild to moderate disease. We suggest that vitamin D supplementation should be considered in all adult IBD patients.

Gastric hyperplastic polyps are usually associated with chronic gastritis including Helicobacter pylori gastritis and postantrectomy stomachs. Here, we report on a series of 12 patients with portal hypertension secondary to liver cirrhosis, who were found to have a unique histological type of gastric polyp on endoscopy.Retrospective chart review of 12 patients with portal hypertension, who presented with histologically diagnosed gastric hyperplastic polyps. These polyps were reviewed and compared with hyperplastic polyps from 21 patients who did not have portal hypertension.The endoscopic appearances of portal hypertension-associated polyps varied considerably, with sizes ranging up to 18 mm. They were sessile or pedunculated, singular or multiple, found in the antrum or body of the stomach, and endoscopically appeared to be typical hyperplastic polyps. Histopathological examination, however, showed mucosal hyperplasia and extensive vascular proliferation and granulation tissue formation.The unique histological appearance of gastric hyperplastic polyps in patients with portal hypertension polyps is described. The exact pathogenetic mechanism of polyp formation is unclear although it seems possible that the underlying cause is mucosal injury that is vascular in nature rather than being secondary to surface inflammation. Although there is an emerging evidence of the neoplastic potential of usual hyperplastic polyps, the natural history of portal hypertension-associated polyps is unknown. Identification and management of portal hypertension-associated gastric polyps present a particular dilemma, as these patients often have coagulopathies and vascular ectasias. Therefore, the natural history and endoscopic features of gastric polyps arising in portal hypertensive patients warrants further exploration.

Background: Conventional treatment of autoimmune hepatitis consists of either prednisone alone or in combination with azathioprine. Ten to 20% of patients do not respond to or are intolerant of this treatment. Novel drug treatments include immunosuppressive drugs such as tacrolimus (TAC), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), methotrexate and cyclosporine. We describe a multi-centre Canadian experience with MMF and TAC. Objective: To study a multi-centre patient population who had failed conventional therapy and were treated with non-conventional medical therapy for autoimmune hepatitis and document response. Methods: Members of the Canadian Association for the Study of Liver (CASL) obtained MMF from Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, as part of a compassionate release program, were contacted for standardized data on patients with AIH who received MMF or TAC. Response definitions based on aminotransferase changes were: Complete response (CR)-sustained normalization, partial response (PR)-improvement by greater than 50%, non-response (NR)-less than 50% improvement and relapse (RP)-initial CR or PR followed by an increase in aminotransferases. Results: A total of 16 patients were identified: six in Ontario, one in Quebec, five in Alberta and four in British Columbia. Three were treated with TAC, eleven with MMF and two with combination MMF and TAC. CR was observed in 50%, PR in 12.5%, RP in 25% and NR occurred in 12.5%. The CR for MMF without TAC was approximately 64%. Conclusions: MMF is effective and well tolerated by patients with autoimmune hepatitis who do not respond to, or are intolerant of, conventional immunosuppressive agents.

Antitumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNFα) agents have substantially altered the management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Their benefits must however be weighed against increased risks for infections, lymphoma, and possibly other malignancies. We report on a 27-year-old man, with a six-year history of ulcerative colitis maintained on mesalamine suppositories, presenting with clinical, radiographic and biopsy evidence of an acute colitis flare. Due to the refractory nature of his disease, infliximab was started, resulting in induction of remission within six weeks. Three months after the first dose of infliximab, the patient was diagnosed with a testicular mixed germ cell tumor requiring orchiectomy. Four cases of testicular cancer development among patients using anti-TNFα agents have been identified. Given the prevalence of IBD in young men and recent suggestions for "top-down therapy," testicular cancer as a potential complication of anti-TNFα agents should be further explored on a population basis.

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) refers to the rapid development of severe acute liver injury with impaired synthetic function and encephalopathy in a person who previously had a normal liver or had well-compensated liver disease. The potential causes of FHF are numerous, but viral or toxin-induced hepatitis are the most common. Clozapine-induced hepatotoxicity has rarely been reported in the literature, occurs via an unknown mechanism and results in liver biochemical abnormalities that are usually of no clinical significance. In approximately 30% to 50% of patients treated with clozapine, there is an asymptomatic rise in serum aminotransaminase levels; however, there are no current guidelines for routine monitoring of liver function tests and liver enzymes during its use. Fatal fulminant hepatitis has only been reported in three patients receiving clozapine. A case of fatal FHF that occurred in a schizophrenic woman who began clozapine therapy shortly before her illness developed is described.

A Case of Rothia dentocariosa Bacteremia in a Patient Receiving Infliximab for Ulcerative Colitis

In response to an article describing cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) the authors review a specific case of a male patient with IBD and its importance for patient education for patient education for patients with IBD. The authors highlight the importance of communicating to male IBD patients prescribed ganciclovir for treatment of CMV infection the need for contraception because of potential teratogenic effects. For other mainstay of IBD treatments paternal use of these agents is associated with either unknown or no increased risk of adverse fetal outcomes.

In theory, hepatic fibrosis should be a dynamic process with the potential for remodelling after the injury-provoking stimulus has been removed. Clinically, there has been an accumulation of a small number of cases, including hepatitis B e (HBe) antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B infection, in which cirrhosis regressed after successful treatment. We report a 42-year-old HBe antigen-negative Chinese man with detectable serum hepatitis B virus DNA and histologically established cirrhosis (Ludwig score 4) who, after 4 years of successful lamivudine therapy, was found to have regression of cirrhosis on repeat liver biopsy. The repeat biopsy revealed normal liver architecture with fibrosis confined to the portal tracts and short fibrosis septae extending into the lobule without bridging (Ludwig score 1-2). Although cirrhosis may take many years to develop, our experience suggests that successful treatment may reverse the process within a relatively short time.

Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia Correspondence: Dr Hugh J Freeman, Division of Gastroenterology, University of British Columbia Hospital, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1W5. Telephone 604-822-7216, fax 604-822-7236, email hugfree@shaw.ca Received for publication October 5, 2011. Accepted October 11, 2011 case presentation A 53-year-old man was referred because of colonoscopic identification by a surgeon of a large cecal polyp, possibly amenable to endoscopic removal. During the colonoscopic evaluation, no cecal lesion was seen by two expert gastroenterologists despite excellent visualization of the cecum. Ileal and appendiceal orifices appeared normal. After photographs were taken to document an apparently normal cecum (Figure 1), a large colonic polypoid mass appeared to partially, then subsequently fully prolapsed into the cecum during the procedure from the ileocecal orifice (Figure 2). This was later removed by laparoscopic resection and proved to be a villous adenoma of the cecum. Discussion A few reports have documented intussusception of benign and malignant polypoid lesions in the ileocecal area of adults (1,2). Usually, patients experience intermittent abdominal pain and distension, sometimes with nausea and vomiting, suggesting an obstructing lesion. In adults, a well-defined pathological abnormality is often evident and the intussusception is believed to be caused by a specific pathological lesion associated with a freely moving segment telescoping into an adjacent fixed or retroperitoneal segment. As a result, a relatively common site of intussusception is the ileocecal area (3). image of the month